Where those associated with Western films from around the world are laid to rest.

Friday, October 26, 2012

RIP Cesare Canevari

Cesare Canevari the
director of the cult classic “Matalo’ died yesterday October 25, 2012 in his
home town of Milan, Italy. Born in 1927 Cesare was an Italian producer,
director, screenwriter, film editor and actor. His first credited film
experience was an actor in “I due sergenti” (1951). After another turn as an
actor Canevari started to work behind the camera as a director under the alias D.
Brownson, and as a screenwriter and actor as C. Iravenac in the cheaply made “Per
un dollaro a Tucson si muore” (Die for a Dollar in Tucson) made in 1964. The
only name actor to appear in this film that we know of was Benito Stefanelli
under his alias Benny Reeves. Later Canevari would make another western in 1970
called “Matalo” which was a remake of an earlier western called “Dio non paga
il sabato” (aka Kill the Wicked) starring Americans Larry Ward and Rod Dana. “Matalo”
copied the earlier film almost verbatim but it turned out to be a hippy love-fest
with more violence, a funky jazz score by Mario Migliardi, strange camera
angles shot by cameraman Julio Ortas and a group of outlaws who look like they
are out of a Sonny & Cher video. The hero of the film is Lou Castel who,
armed with his favorite weapons, a set of boomerangs finally disposes of the
wanted outlaws. “Matalo” was released on DVD by my friends at Wild East and its
dedicated to me as they know it is my least favorite Spaghetti Western.
Canervari would go on to work in only 9 films that we know of. He was 85
years-old.

About Me

Born in Toledo, Ohio in 1946 I have a BA degree in American History from Cal St. Northridge. I've been researching the American West and western films since the early 1980s and visiting filming sites in Spain and the U.S.A. Elected a member of the Spaghetti Western Hall of Fame 2010.